In El Nido, Palawan
Secret Beach
Accessed through a tiny hole in a cliff.
Secret Beach is reached by swimming through a small gap in the limestone cliff on Matinloc Island — there's no other way in. The opening is just big enough for one person at a time to squeeze through during low tide. Inside, you find a small white-sand beach enclosed by cliffs on all sides, with a tiny circle of sky above.
It's part of Tour C. Tours usually allow 30-45 minutes here, which is enough to swim through, hang out on the beach, and swim back. Bring water shoes — the rocks at the entrance are sharp.
The beach made global Instagram fame after appearing in countless travel photos. As a result, it's often crowded — peak times have 50+ people in a beach that comfortably fits 15. Going during shoulder season (June or November) is the workaround. The "secret" is gone but the beauty isn't.
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